Turned out to be a maze-like structure. It's a very cool idea from the Asian Civilisations Museum for their "Mystery Men: Finds from China's Lost Age" exhibition.
First thing you see when you enter is a panel, displaying this question:
You choose a door (a screen, rather) to enter, and you'll see the answer on the panel behind the screen. If you choose a "wrong" answer, you hit a dead-end. You back out and try the other door. There are a few more of such questions in the maze, contained within the square box.
A very innovative way to publicise an event and educate the public at the same time. Subtly, it's promoting the idea that "Heritage is Learning" (at least to me). Maybe next time, ACM might want to install a counting device (light-sensor activated) to gauge how many people have entered the maze. It was a typical weekday afternoon when I took the pictures. Relatively less human traffic, yet at certain times there'd be bursts of library customers checking out the exhibit.
A success collaboration between a NHB Museum and the library, in my opinion. More important, I'm sure the customers found this interesting.
[Update: Check out this blog post by PY on the Mystery Men exhibit at the ACM]
Having recently watch Apocolypto, this looks very Mayan or Aztec. It's really interesting how this is actually from China.
ReplyDeleteThis is what blogging is truly about... an online word of mouth. Without your blog, people like us wouldn't know about such interesting events in the neighboring libraries. :)
I would be very tempted to try this.
ReplyDeleteIvan, I LOVE your photos of your trip to China and of this exhibit. Please continue to post photos--you are an excellent photographer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your plug Ivan! Its certainly a very innovative idea by ACM and I am glad that there is more collaboration between NHB and NLB. This is something out-of-the-box or maybe in-the-box?
ReplyDeleteI am still keen to do something with your end of NLB and pitch for money from MICA. Maybe we can discuss post CNY.... ;)
Very interesting. Maybe I'll bring Ah Girl to venture it after the CNY.
ReplyDeleteIvan, in case you aren't aware, there's free admission to the Asian Civilisation Museum (and that means free admission to Mystery Men exhibition too) on 19 Feb 2007.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, PY. I just might pop by the ACM!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome marketing move! Do they only have one of this box mazes set up? When the marketing becomes and news, you know a good job is done. =) Thanks for blogging it.
ReplyDeleteHi Ivan,
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed and wonderful Chinese New Year, filled with porcine pleasures, ham-some moments, and lots and lots of pigging out! Thanks for being a wonderful friend and a part of my world.
Lots of good cheer and oinks oinks from the cool insider.
Kevin,
ReplyDeletePeople like you need blogs cos you don't read widely enough and hence blogging for inane ignoramuses like you!
To anonymous (who posted this comment). At first I wanted to reject your comment. It's rude, vindicative, cowardly, and irrelevant to this post. But decided to post it to let the Blogosphere decide who's right or wrong (I shan't reveal your IP address though...). Anyway, you've just about insulted every blogger by saying they don't read widely and are ignoramuses. Smart. Real smart.
ReplyDelete